Attitude (heraldry)

{{short description|Orientation and pose of a creature in heraldry}} thumb|right|250px|The ''lion passant guardant'', a frequent figure in heraldry, has often been called a ''leopard'' by French and English heralds. {{Heraldic achievement}} In heraldry, the term '''attitude''' describes the ''position'' in which a figure (animal or human) is emblazoned as a charge, a supporter, or as a crest. The attitude of a heraldic figure always precedes any reference to the tincture of the figure and its parts. Some attitudes apply only to predatory beasts, exemplified by the beast most usual to heraldry – the heraldic lion; other terms apply to docile animals, such as the doe, usually emblazoned as a "hind".

Other heraldic attitudes, such as ''volant'' (flying), describe the positions of birds, exemplified by the bird most usual to heraldry – the heraldic eagle; moreover, birds also are described by the positions of their wings.<ref>There are exceptions, such as the ''beaver volant'' in the coat of arms of the 439th Troop Carrier Group of the U.S Air Force.{{harv|Maurer|1983 |page=313}}</ref> The term ''naiant'' (swimming) applies to fish, swans, ducks, and geese. The term ''segreant'' is applied to the griffin, as an approximation of ''rampant'', and is applied to the dragon. Animal figures are positioned in profile, facing dexter (the viewer's left), and persons are shown ''affronté'' (facing the viewer), but the blazon might specify other attitudes.

== Positions indicating direction == Animals and animal-like creatures are presumed to be shown in profile facing ''dexter''. This attitude is standard unless otherwise stated in the blazon. As a warrior will usually carry a shield in the left hand, the animal shown on the shield will then face toward the knight's body. Humans and human-like beings are presumed to be shown ''affronté''. The heraldic terms ''dexter'' ('right') and ''sinister'' ('left') represent the shield bearer's perspective, not the viewer's. * '''To dexter''' or the viewer's left is the direction animals are presumed to face. This position is thus not specified unless necessary for clarity, as when a human or human-like being is depicted (the default position for these is "affronté") or when an animal's head and body are not turned in the same direction. * '''To sinister''' or '''contourné''' ('''contourny''') is said of a creature facing the viewer's right. * '''Affronté''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|f|r|ə|n|ˈ|t|eɪ}}) (also '''affronty''', '''affrontee''', '''affronted''', or '''affrontant''') is said of a creature (or other heraldic component such as a helm or the face of a man) that faces the viewer (e.g., of a lion, "affronté-sejant") * '''En arrière''' is said of a creature positioned with its back to the viewer. It is most common used of birds and insects, where the understanding is of an overhead view of the animal with its wings spread (most commonly, "volant en arrière", said of bees). However, also see "recursant" below. * '''Guardant''' or '''in full aspect''' indicates an animal with a body positioned sideways but with its head turned to face the viewer. * '''Regardant''' indicates an animal with its head turned backward, as if looking over its shoulder. Unless other instructions are given, the body will face "to dexter", making the head's direction "to sinister" (e.g., "passant reg[u]ardant", "rampant reg[u]ardant", where the first term describes the animal's body position and the second describes the position of its head). * '''In trian aspect''' (a rare, later 16th and 17th century heraldry term<ref>{{harvp|Parker|1970|pp=24, 588}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Gough|Parker|1847|p=305}}</ref>) is an animal's head at a three-quarters view and gives the appearance of depth, with the head viewed at an angle somewhere between profile and straight-on.

== Attitudes of beasts == Many attitudes commonly met with in heraldic rolls apply specifically to predatory beasts, while others may be better suited to the docile animals. These will each be discussed in detail below.

A blazon may also specify the position of a beast's head, differently coloured parts (such as teeth, claws, tongue, etc.), or the shape or position of its tail. A beast may be "armed" (horns, teeth and claws) or "langued" (tongue) of a tincture, while a stag may be "attired" (antlers) or "unguled" (hooves) of a tincture. The tail may be forked (''queue fourchée'') or doubled (''double-queued''). In addition to the below, there may be rare or, arguably, not entirely standard attitudes, such as ''a snorting bison''.<ref>{{harvp|Maurer|1983 |page=320}}</ref>

=== Rampant === {{Redirect|Rampant|the Nazareth album|Rampant (album)|the 2009 fantasy novel|Diana Peterfreund|the Korean film|Rampant (film)}} A beast '''rampant''' (Old French: "rearing up") is depicted in profile standing erect with forepaws raised.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=176}}</ref> The position of the hind legs varies according to local custom: the lion may stand on both hind legs, braced wide apart, or on only one, with the other also raised to strike; the word ''rampant'' is sometimes omitted, especially in early blazon, as this is the most usual position of a carnivorous quadruped. ''Note:'' the term '''segreant''' denotes the same position, but implies a particular wing position and is only used in reference to winged quadrupeds such as griffins and dragons.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.dictionaryofheraldry.com/Segreant.htm | title = Segreant | work = Dictionary of Heraldry | date = 2008-08-31 | access-date = 2009-03-14 | url-status = usurped | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110710123447/http://www.dictionaryofheraldry.com/Segreant.htm | archive-date = 2011-07-10}}</ref> Rampant is the most frequent attitude of quadrupeds, and as supporters they are rarely seen in any other attitude. '''Forcené''' is the term for this position when applied to horses or unicorns.

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Rampant.svg|Lion rampant File:Lion Rampant Guardant.svg|Lion rampant guardant File:Lion Rampant Regaurdant.svg|Lion rampant regardant </gallery>

=== Passant === A beast '''passant''' (Old French: "striding") walks toward dexter (the viewer's left) with the right forepaw raised and all others on the ground.<ref name=Fox-Davies181>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=181}}</ref> Early heralds held that any lion in a walking position must necessarily be a "leopard", and this distinction persists in French heraldry; however, this use of the term ''leopard'' has long since been abandoned by English heralds.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=173}}</ref> A "Lion of England" denotes a ''lion passant guardant Or'', used as an augmentation.<ref name=Fox-Davies181 /> The Welsh flag features a dragon passant. For stags and other deer-like beasts of chase, the term '''trippant''' is used instead of passant.

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Passant.svg|Lion passant File:Lion Passant Guardant.svg|Lion passant guardant File:Lion Passant Reguardant.svg|Lion passant regardant </gallery>

=== Sejant === A beast '''sejant''' or '''sejeant''' (Middle French: ''seant'', ''siégeant'', "sitting") sits on its haunches, with both forepaws on the ground.<ref name=Fox-Davies184>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=184}}</ref>

A beast '''sejant erect''' is seated on its haunches, but with its body erect and both forepaws raised in the "rampant" position (this is sometimes termed "sejant-rampant").<ref name=Fox-Davies184 />

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Sejant.svg|Lion sejant File:Lion Sejant Erect.svg|Lion sejant erect </gallery>

=== Couchant === A beast '''couchant''' (Old French: "lying down") is lying down, but with the head raised.<ref name=Fox-Davies185>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=185}}</ref> '''Lodged''' is the term for this position when applied to the "docile" (i.e. herbivorous) animals.

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Couchant.svg|Lion couchant </gallery>

=== Courant === A beast '''courant''' (French: "running"; also '''at speed''' or '''in full chase''') is running, depicted at full stride with all four legs in the air.

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Courant.svg|Lion courant </gallery>

=== Coward === A lion '''coward''' (Old French ''coart, cuard'', "turning tail") carries the tail between its hind legs and is otherwise shown rampant to dexter; "coward" takes no other modifiers such as "regardant" or "sejant".<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=180}}</ref>

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Coward.svg|Lion coward </gallery>

=== Dormant === A beast '''dormant''' (French: "sleeping") is lying down with his head lowered, resting upon the forepaws, as if asleep.<ref name=Fox-Davies185 /> (However, perhaps counterintuitively, some sources{{which|date=March 2021}} would have the lion dormant with the eyes open.)

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Dormant.svg|Lion dormant </gallery>

=== Salient === A beast '''salient''' (Latin: ''saliēns'', "leaping") (also '''springing''') is leaping, with both hind legs together on the ground and both forelegs together in the air.<ref name=Fox-Davies183 /> This is a very rare position for a lion,<ref name=Fox-Davies183 /> but is also used of other heraldic beasts. The stag and other docile animals in this position are often termed '''springing'''. Certain smaller animals are sometimes blazoned as '''saltant''' rather than '''salient'''.<ref>{{cite web|title=saltant |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/saltant |website=Wiktionary.org}}</ref> Goats are said to be '''clymant''' in the rampant position.<ref>{{cite web |title=clymant, climant |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/clymant |website=Wiktionary.org}}</ref>

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Salient.svg|Lion salient </gallery>

=== Statant === A beast '''statant''' (Old French: "standing") is "standing" (in profile toward dexter), all four feet on the ground, usually with the forepaws together.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=182}}</ref> This posture is more frequent in crests than in charges on shields.<ref name=Fox-Davies183>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p= 183}}</ref> In certain animals, such as bears, this may refer to an upright, bipedal position (though this position may also be referred to as '''statant erect'''), though bears blazoned as 'statant' can also be found with all four feet firmly on the ground (e.g. in the arms of the former borough council of Berwick-upon-Tweed).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/northumberland_74to09.html#berwick%20bc|title=Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed|publisher=Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council|access-date=1 January 2023}}</ref> While ''statant'' is used in reference to predatory beasts, the more docile animals when in this position may be called '''at bay''', while such creatures ''statant guardant'' are said to be '''at gaze'''. This is particularly true of stags (harts).<ref>{{cite book|author=Charles MacKinnon of Dunakin|title=The Observer's Book of Heraldry|publisher=Frederick Warne and Co|page=66}}</ref>

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion Statant.svg|Lion statant File:Lion Statant Guardant.svg|Lion statant guardant </gallery>

===Morne=== Also spelled '''morné''' or '''mortine''', a lion depicted with no claws, no teeth and no tongue, in the rampant position. The term is from the Old French verb ''morner'', from ''morne'', a ring placed over the point of a lance, from Latin ''mora'', "sword guard".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_5BAAAAcAAJ&q=morne+heraldry&pg=RA4-PP57|title=Encyclopaedia Heraldica Or Complete Dictionary of Heraldry|first=William|last=Berry|date=June 14, 1828|publisher=Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=38psAAAAMAAJ&q=morne+heraldry&pg=PA218|title=A Treatise on Heraldry, British and Foreign: With English and French Glossaries|first1=John|last1=Woodward|first2=George|last2=Burnett|date=June 14, 1892|publisher=W. & A. K. Johnston|via=Google Books}}</ref>

<gallery class="center"> File:Lion morne.svg|Lion morne </gallery>

===Bailloné=== A lion ''bailloné'' ({{lit|gagged}}) is shown in the rampant position holding a baton or staff in its teeth.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/french-english/baillonner|title=bâillonner}}</ref> <gallery class="center"> File:Baillone.svg|Lion baillone </gallery>

===Defamed=== Also called '''diffame''', '''infamed''', and '''defame''', a lion shown in the rampant position without its tail. <gallery class="center"> File:defamed.svg|Lion defamed </gallery>

===Disjointed=== A lion shown with its paws and head (but not its tail) detached from its body is called "disjointed" (i.e., torn away at the joints), and it is always shown in the rampant position. <gallery class="center"> File:Lion Disjointed.svg|Lion disjointed </gallery>

===Tricorporated=== A lion ''tricorporated'' is shown having three bodies combined with one head, with the main/ central lion facing "rampant guardant" (i.e., with its face towards the viewer and with body upright facing to dexter). <gallery class="center"> File:Lion Tricorporated.svg|Lion tricorporated File:Complete Guide to Heraldry Fig292.png|Lion tricorporated, as illustrated in Arthur Charles Fox-Davies' ''Complete Guide to Heraldry'' </gallery>

== Attitudes of herbivores == Herbivores are generally "docile" animals like deer, horses, sheep, etc. They use many of the same terms listed under "beasts" above but have several terms that are reserved for non-predatory animals.

=== At Bay === Herbivores are described as '''at bay''' when they are standing still while looking in the direction their body is positioned (i.e., dexter or sinister). It is the same as ''statant''.

=== At Gaze === When herbivores are standing still while looking toward the viewer, it is called '''at gaze'''. It is the herbivore version of ''statant guardant''.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=208-209}}</ref>

=== Forcené === When a unicorn, horse or other horse-like animal "rears up" in what the beasts describe as ''rampant'', it is called '''forcené''' (forcene, {{lit|rabid}}).<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=201}}</ref> This term is not used for non-horse-like herbivores.

=== Leaping, Springing === '''Leaping''' or '''springing''' describe docile animals leaping, usually with both hind legs on the ground.<ref name="auto">{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=208}}</ref> These terms can be used interchangeably to describe the beasts' salient attitude for herbivores.

=== Lodged === A docile/herbivorous animal, such as a stag or sheep, lying down with head erect is called '''lodged''' ("lying down").<ref name="auto"/> This term is used in place of couchant.

=== Pascuant === Herbivores can be shown as '''pascuant''' ("grazing") or '''paissant''' ("peaceful"), with head lowered to the same level as their four legs, as the head of a cow would be when eating grass.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldsnet.org/saitou/parker/Jpglossp.htm|title=A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry |first=James |last=Parker |website=www.heraldsnet.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=National Archives of South Africa: Database of the Bureau of Heraldry on registered heraldic representations|url=http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm30ddf0?20160524012500AA93E16A|access-date=23 May 2016}}</ref> <gallery class="center"> File:Blason ville fr Ladevèze (Gers).svg|Arms of Ladevèze-Rivière: gules a sheep pascuant File:Hranice,znak.jpg|Arms of Hranice, Cheb District, Czech Republic, featuring a horse pascuant argent File:Blason ville fr Betpouey (65).svg|Arms of Betpouey, France: vert a sheep pascuant, on a chief azure three fleurs de lys Or File:Blason_Saint_Andre_d_Embrun.svg|Arms of Saint-André-d'Embrun, France, with a sheep pascuant to sinister </gallery>

=== Trippant === '''Trippant''' ("striding") is used to describe stags and other deer-like animals of the chase (prey) in place of passant.<ref name="auto"/>

== Attitudes of birds and bats == {{More citations needed section|date=March 2017}}

Some attitudes describe the positioning of birds and bats. The eagle is so often found ''displayed'' in early heraldry that this position came to be presumed of the eagle unless some other attitude is specified in the blazon. The same applies to bats.

The terms ''expanded'' and ''elevated'' or ''abaissé'' and ''inverted'' are similar terms often used interchangeably in heraldry but have specific meanings. There is also sometimes confusion between a ''rising'' bird with ''displayed'' wings and a ''displayed'' bird. The difference is that ''rising'' birds face either to the ''dexter'' or ''in trian aspect'' and have their feet on the ground. ''Displayed'' birds face the viewer, have their legs splayed out, and the tail is completely visible.

Several terms refer to the particular position of the wings, rather than the attitude of the bird itself. A bird in nearly any attitude, except ''overt'', may have its wings ''displayed'' or ''addorsed''. * '''Wings displayed''' means the bird's right wing is extended forward and its left wing extended rearward, turned so that the undersides of both wings are fully shown. ** '''displayed and expanded''' or '''''espanie''''' / '''''épandre''''' ("expanded") are spread with the wing tips pointing upward. ** '''displayed and lowered''' or '''''abaissé''''' ("lowered") are spread with the wing tips pointing downward. * '''Wings addorsed''' means the wings are raised and spread behind it back-to-back as if about to take flight, so that only the top of the bird's right wing shows behind the fully displayed left wing. ** '''addorsed and elevated''' are raised with the wing tips pointing upward. ** '''addorsed and inverted''' are raised with the wing tips pointing downward. {|class="wikitable" | align="center" |150px | align="center" |150px |- |Wings displayed and expanded |Wings displayed and lowered |}

=== Displayed === A bird '''displayed''' is shown ''affronté'' with its head turned to dexter and wings spread to the sides to fill the area of the field. This position is presumed of the eagle, and the symbolic use of eagles in this position was well established even before the development of heraldry, going back to Charlemagne.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=233}}</ref>

=== Overt === A bird '''overt''' ("open") or '''disclosed''' has wings open and pointing downward.

=== Close === '''Close''' ("closed"), the bird's equivalent of ''statant'', is shown in profile and at rest with its feet flat on the ground and its wings folded at its sides. '''Trussed''' is the term used for domestic or game birds, implying the bird is tied up or caught in a net respectively, and is not applied to predator birds like the eagle and hawk. '''Perched''' is ''close'' while sitting atop a charge.

If a bird's attitude is not blazoned, it is assumed to be ''close''; the exception is the eagle, whose default attitude is ''displayed''.

===Issuant=== Used to describe a phoenix, though potentially other flying creatures as well, when depicted arising from, for example, a line of flames, a coronet, an amphora, etc.<ref>{{cite book|author=Arthur Charles Fox Davies|title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry|page=162|date=1909|publisher=T. C. & E. C. Jack}}</ref>

=== Rising === A bird '''rising''', '''rizant'''<ref>So blazoned in the crest of Daniel Christopher Boyer. {{citation|title=Application for Registration of Heraldic Representations and Objections Thereto |date=July 23, 2010 |url=http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=128777|access-date=2011-01-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133420/http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=128777|archive-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Registration of Heraldic Representations |date=December 24, 2010 |url=http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=137870|access-date=2011-01-03|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629133355/http://www.info.gov.za/view/DownloadFileAction?id=137870|archive-date=June 29, 2011}}</ref> or '''''rousant''''' faces dexter with its head upturned, wings raised, and standing on the tips of its feet as if about to take flight. A bird rising may have its wings described as either ''displayed'' or ''addorsed'', and the wings may be further described as ''elevated'' or ''inverted''.

=== Striking === An attitude similar to rising is the '''striking''' position. When striking, the wings are spread in flight with head lowered to look at prey below, legs outstretched, and talons / claws opened to grasp the prey as the bird passed the target.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} While this may be more common in a bird of prey, it can be used with other birds such as a corvid.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

=== Volant === A bird '''volant''' faces the ''dexter'' with its wings spread in flight (usually shown ''addorsed'' and ''elevated'') and its legs tucked under its body. '''''Volant en arrière''''' is when the bird is shown from a top-down perspective with the head facing straight ahead, its back to the viewer, and the wings spread in flight (usually shown ''displayed'' and ''inverted''). A bird ''volant'' is considered ''in bend'' ("diagonal") as it is flying from the lower ''sinister'' to the upper ''dexter'' of the field.

=== Recursant === thumb|right|An eagle volant recursant descendant in pale, the emblem of the 38th Air Division of the US Air Force An eagle or hawk shown ''recursant'' has its back towards the viewer, e.g., "an eagle volant recursant descendant in pale" is an eagle flying perpendicularly downward with its back towards the viewer. (See also '''tergiant''' below.)

=== Vigilant === thumb|left|A crane vigilant A crane standing on one leg (usually with a stone held in the other foot) may be called '''vigilant''' or ''in its vigilance'' (e.g. Waverley Borough Council's "crane in its vigilance"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/weald_downs.html|title=Civic Heraldry of England And Wales - Weald and Downs Area|website=www.civicheraldry.co.uk|access-date=2017-03-02}}</ref>). A stone is usually shown held in the claw of the raised leg. This is as per the bestiary myth that cranes stayed awake by doing so. If it dozed, the crane would supposedly drop the rock, waking itself up. In heraldry, this does not, however, preclude the depiction of the crane asleep, such as in the arms of Clan Cranstoun, in which case the crane is still termed as being "in its vigilance".<ref name=Fox-Davies247>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=247}}</ref>

===Vulning / in her piety<span class="anchor" id="Vulning"></span>=== thumb|left|100px|A pelican in her piety, wings addorsed and elevated One peculiar attitude, reserved only to the pelican, is the pelican in her piety. The heraldic pelican, one of the few female beasts in heraldry, is shown with a sharp stork-like beak, which it uses to ''vuln'' (pierce or wound) her own breast. This is per the bestiary myth that a female pelican wounded herself thus to feed her chicks. This symbol of sacrifice carries a particular religious meaning (usually a reference to Christ's sacrifice), and became so popular in heraldry that pelicans rarely exist in heraldry in any other position.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=242}}</ref> A distinction is sometimes observed, however, between a pelican vulning herself (alone, piercing her breast) versus "her piety" (surrounded by and feeding her chicks).<ref>{{harvp|Cussans|2003|p=93}}</ref>

== Attitudes of fish ==

=== Embowed === A fish or dolphin '''embowed''' is depicted with its back curved upwards. Absent other qualifiers, the term "dolphin" represents the animal embowed and naiant. '''Torqued''' refers to a fish or dolphin embowed in a vertical position, forming the shape of a letter S. Variant spellings for this term include ''torquend'', ''torgant'', and ''targant''. "Torqued" may also be used to refer to serpents.<ref name="Vinycomb269">{{harvp|Vinycomb|1906|p=269}}</ref>

=== Hauriant === A fish, dolphin, or other sea creature '''hauriant''' (Latin ''hauriēns'', "drawing up") is in a vertical position with its head up,<ref name="auto1">{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=253}}</ref> as if surfacing for air.<ref name="Vinycomb269"/> The term is only used for finned and swimming creatures; upright shellfish are instead termed simply "erect" or "upright".<ref name="Vinycomb269"/>

=== Naiant === right|thumb|A dolphin naiantAn animal or creature '''naiant''' is swimming. This term is typically applied to fish (when shown in a horizontal position), but may also apply to other sea creatures and, occasionally, water fowl (i.e. swans, ducks or geese shown without legs). A dolphin blazoned as naiant is always shown as embowed, unlike any other sea creature or monster, even though the blazon may not specify this.<ref name="auto1"/>

=== Urinant === A fish, dolphin, or other sea creature '''urinant''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|jʊər|ɪ|n|ə|n|t}}) (Latin ''ūrīnāns'', "diving") is in a vertical position with its head down and the tail erect.<ref name="Vinycomb269"/>

== Attitudes of serpents == Terms like ''glissant'' and ''nowed'' apply to serpents. Serpents also sometimes appear in a circular form, biting their own tail, but this symbol, called an Ouroboros, was imported ready-made into heraldry, and so it needs no term of attitude to describe it.

=== Glissant === A serpent '''glissant''' is gliding horizontally in an undulant posture.<ref name="auto2">{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1909|p=258}}</ref>

=== Nowed === right|thumb|A serpent nowed

Serpents, and the tails of other beasts and monsters, may be '''nowed''' ({{IPAc-en|n||aʊ|d}} (French ''noué'', "knotted")—often in a figure-eight knot.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="Vinycomb121">{{harvp|Vinycomb|1906|p=121}}</ref> Serpents bent to form a spiral or letter S, such as in the Caduceus, are termed '''annodated.'''<ref name="Vinycomb121"/>

=== Tergiant === Tergiant (and, less often, tergant) is another way to describe ''recursant'' where the animal has its back (Latin ''tergum'') to the viewer.<ref>{{cite web |title=tergiant |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tergiant |website=Wiktionary.org}}</ref> It is the default attitude for amphibians, insects, and some reptiles with a low profile, such as a lizard. Tergiant can also be used for birds in place of recursant, though less frequently than the other figures mentioned. It is basically the opposite of affronty.

== Attitudes for mythical winged quadrupeds ==

Few attitudes are reserved to the rarer classes of creatures, but these include '''segreant''', a term which can only apply to winged quadrupeds.

=== Segreant === right|thumb|A griphon segreantA creature '''segreant''' has both forelegs raised in the air, as a beast ''rampant'', with wings ''addorsed'' and ''elevated''. This term is reserved to winged quadrupeds (such as griffins and dragons). It is of uncertain etymology; it is first recorded as ''sergreant'' in the 16th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dictionary.com/browse/segreant|title=the definition of segreant|website=www.dictionary.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopaediaher01berr/page/n535|title=Encyclopædia Heraldica: Or, Complete Dictionary of Heraldry|first=William|last=Berry|date=1828 |location=London |publisher=Sherwood, Gilbert and Piper|via=Internet Archive |volume=1 |at=p.536, "Segregant"}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pz2ORay2HWoC&q=segreant+etymology+sergreant&pg=PA1497|title=The Chambers Dictionary|date=21 January 1998|publisher=Allied Publishers|isbn=9788186062258|via=Google Books}}</ref> Payne Fisher's 1682 ''Synopsis of Heraldry'' uses the term ''segriant'', as seen in some blazons.<ref>[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/pseudodoxia/pseudo311.html Footnote 10], Chapter XI. Of Griffins. Sir Thomas Browne (1646; 6th ed., 1672) ''Pseudodoxia Epidemica'' III.xi (pp. 142–144). Accessed 6 November 2022.</ref>

== Other attitudes == {{Unreferenced section|date=March 2017}}

=== Combatant or respectant === Creatures '''combatant''' (French, "fighting") are shown in profile facing each other in the ''rampant'' or ''segreant'' position, always paired and never appearing singly.<ref>{{harvp|Fox-Davies|1929|p=181}}</ref> Nearly any creature can be rendered '''combatant''', although this term is usually applied to predatory beasts and mythical creatures; herbivorous animals in such a position are typically blazoned as '''respectant''' (Latin ''respectāns'', "watching").<ref>{{cite web|title=respectant |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/respectant |website=Wiktionary.org}}</ref>

=== Addorsed === left|thumb|Two goats addorsedCreatures or objects '''addorsed''' or '''endorsed''' (Latin ''ad''-, "to" and ''dorsum'', "back"; Middle English ''endosse'', Old French ''endosser'', influenced by Medieval Latin ''indorsare'') are shown facing ''away from'' each other. As with ''combatant'', charges addorsed can only appear in pairs. One also frequently finds keys addorsed (placed in parallel, wards facing outward).<ref>{{cite web |title=addorsed |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/addorsed |website=Wiktionary.org}}</ref>

<gallery class="center"> File:Heraldic figures - Griffin.svg|Griffin '''segreant''' or armed and langued gules File:Royal Arms of England (1189-1198).svg|Lions '''combatant''' or armed and langued azure File:Meuble héraldique Bars adossés.svg|Barbels '''addorsed''' or File:USS Tornado PC-14 COA.png|Arms of USS ''Tornado'', with a dragon '''urinant''' File:037-Armored-Regiment-COA.png|Arms of the 37th Armor Regiment, featuring a wyvern '''glissant''' File:Dolphin naiant (heraldry).svg|Dolphin '''naiant''' or File:Complete Guide to Heraldry Fig480.png|Dolphin '''haurient''' argent File:Lion Rampant tail nowed.svg|Lion or armed argent, langued gules, tail '''nowed''' </gallery>

== See also == {{Commons category}}

== Notes == {{Reflist}}

== Sources == {{refbegin}} * {{cite book |author-link=John Edwin Cussans |last=Cussans |first=John E. |year=2003 |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofherald00cussrich |title=Handbook of Heraldry |publisher=Kessinger Publishing |isbn=0-7661-7338-0 |lccn=04024470 |via=Internet Archive }} * {{cite book |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur Charles |year=1909 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh00foxdrich |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |location=New York |publisher=Dodge Publishing |lccn=09023803 |via=Internet Archive }} * {{cite book |last=Fox-Davies |first=Arthur Charles |year=1929 |url=https://archive.org/details/completeguidetoh0000arth |title=A Complete Guide to Heraldry |location=London |publisher=T.C. & E.C. Jack |via=Internet Archive }} {{ISBN|0-517-26643-1}} * {{cite book |last1=Gough |first1=Henry |last2=Parker |first2=John Henry |title=A Glossary of Terms Used in British Heraldry |publisher=John Henry Parker |location=Oxford |year=1847 |url=https://archive.org/details/aglossarytermsu11parkgoog |pages=360 }} * {{cite book |title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II |url=https://archive.org/details/AirForceCombatUnitsOfWorldWarIi/ |editor-last=Maurer |editor-first=Maurer |isbn=9780-912799025 |publisher=Office of Air Force History |location=Washington, DC |year=1983}} * {{cite book |last=Parker |first=James |title=A Glossary of Terms Used In Heraldry |edition=New |publisher=James Parker and Co. |location=Oxford and London |year=1970 |orig-year=1894 |url=https://archive.org/details/aglossarytermsu08parkgoog |pages=659 }} * {{Cite book |last=Vinycomb |first=John |author-link=John Vinycomb |title=Fictitious and Symbolic Creatures in Art, With Special Reference to Their Use in British Heraldry |publisher=Chapman and Hall, Limited |location=London |date=1906 |url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/40825/40825-h/40825-h.htm}} {{refend}}

== Further reading == * {{cite book |last=Brooke-Little |first=J P |title=An heraldic alphabet |edition=New and revised |publisher=Robson Books |location=London |year=1985 |orig-year=1975 }} * {{cite web |url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.za/node/65 |website=National Archives & Records Service of South Africa |author=Bureau of Heraldry |title=Gallery |access-date=2019-09-08 |archive-date=2019-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724225126/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.za/node/65 |url-status=dead }} * {{cite web |last=Young |first=Robert |title=Civic Heraldry of England and Wales |url=http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk |date=12 May 2005 |access-date= 24 July 2019 }} * {{cite web |author=Heraldry Society of Scotland |title=HSS Members' - Scots Arms |url=http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal/thumbnails.php?album=7 |access-date=2010-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507090132/http://heraldry-scotland.com/copgal/thumbnails.php?album=7 |archive-date=2013-05-07 |url-status=dead }} * {{cite web |title=Members' Roll of Arms |author=Heraldry Society (England) |url=https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/members-arms/ }} * {{cite web |author=Canadian Heraldic Authority |title=Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada |date=12 November 2020 |url=https://reg.gg.ca/heraldry/pub-reg/main.asp?lang=e }} * {{cite book |last=Greaves |first=Kevin |title=A Canadian Heraldic Primer |publisher=Heraldry Society of Canada |location=Ottawa |year=2000 }} * {{cite book |last1=Moncreiffe |first1=Iain |last2=Pottinger |first2=Don |title=Simple Heraldry |publisher=Thomas Nelson and Sons |location=London and Edinburgh |year=1953 }} * {{cite book |editor-last=Friar |editor-first=Stephen |title=A New Dictionary of Heraldry |publisher=Alphabooks |location=Sherborne |year=1987 }}

Category:Heraldry